Harp Sworn In, Invokes Honest Abe

Mayor Toni Harp will succeed in her second term if more New Haven kids are able to read about it.

At least that’s how New Haven can judge its 50th mayor, based on the vision she offered Friday in an inaugural address after taking the oath of office.

Retired State Supreme Court Justice Lubbie Harper Jr. administered the oath to Harp for her second two-year term. The music-filled, 90-minute ceremony was held in the auditorium of Hill Regional Career High School, designed by the mayor’s late husband, Wendell Harp.

Harp, New Haven’s first female mayor, summoned the words of another second-term inaugural — those of President Abraham Lincoln, uttered a century and a half ago — to appeal for a united citywide effort to lift the fortunes of New Haven’s neediest at a time of an ​“exciting” building boom and rebirth.

Harp focused on improving education as the engine for making that happen.

“Just as public education is the key to an improved economy and safer streets, reading is the key to a robust, effective public education system. As we move New Haven forward, I am determined that we become ​‘the city that reads,’” Harp declared repeating a pledge made in her first term.

“The formula is really quite simple: reading residents are thoughtful residents, and thoughtful residents become creative, contributing members of this knowledge-based economy. But even a simple formula is not necessarily easy to fulfill. This formula will need a catalyst of time, effort, and human energy if it is to yield the desired results.”

Harp made the remarks from the same stage where, for the first time, two elected members of the Board of Education were sworn into office—Edward Joyner and Darnell Goldson, two men who have pledged to shine a brighter light on the failures of the public school system.

Harp also made the remarks at a time when she has assumed the presidency of the Board of Ed with a mandate to produce better, faster results, particularly in reading.

And she made the remarks at a time when the Board of Ed and Board of Alders appear headed for a courtroom battle to settle a separation-of-powers dispute over the ed board’s composition. (Click here and here to read about that.)

In other words, a public education system struggling with low test scores and the need to reenergize a ​“school change” campaign has entered a new period marked by a combination of political warfare and internal conflict. And Harp has stepped into the mess and staked her legacy on lifting New Haven’s schools through it.

Hence Harp’s evocation Friday of Lincoln’s words from the Career stage.

“President Lincoln famously implored of his countrymen: ​‘With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right — as God gives us to see the right — let us strive on to finish the work we are in, (and)… bind up the nation’s wounds,’” Harp said.

“We must seize this time and place in New Haven history, and do so ​‘with malice toward none, and with charity for all,’ striving to create a safe, encouraging, and vibrant New Haven for all who live, study, work, and visit here.”

Harp included among that work the tasks of welcoming and assimilating immigrants and improving race relations.

And improving the schools: ​“With a second term in mind, and after having served more than 25 years in elected office, it is more clear to me than ever that the common denominator in a successful strategy to combat all the challenges we face is providing young people with a best-possible public education. Young people who are encouraged to be curious and develop interests in school, attain some measure of proficiency as their path unfolds, and then learn to apply what they’ve learned — these are the ones more likely to get jobs, keep jobs, and in many cases, even generate jobs for others.”

The full prepared text of Harp’s remarks appears lower down in this story.

4 Alders To Be Sworn In Later

City Clerk Michael Smart was sworn in to a second two-year term in office at Friday’s event. Superior Court Judge Angela Robinson swore in 26 of the 30 newly elected members of the Board of Alders. A special ceremony is to be arranged to swear in the four alders who did not attend Friday’s event: Sarah Eidelson, from Yale’s Ward 1; Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez; Downtown Alder Alberta Witherspoon; and Fair Haven Alder Santiago Berrios-Bones.

Those sworn in Friday included Frank F. Douglas Jr. of Dwight; Latrice James, David Reyes, and Dolores Colon of the Hill; Aaron Greenberg of Wooster Square; Jessica Holmes and Anna Festa of East Rock; Barbara Constantinople, Gerald M. Antunes, and Rosa Santana of the Heights; Fair Haven’s Ernie G. Santiago and Jose Crespo; Alphonse Paolillo Jr. and Salvatore E. DeCola from the East Shore; Newhallville’s Alfreda Edwards, Delphine Clyburn, and Brenda Foskey-Cyrus; Dixwell’s Jeanette Morrison, Board President Tyisha Walker of West River; Evette Hamilton of Edgewood; Westville’s Adam J. Marchand and Darryl Brackeen Jr.; Beaver Hills’ Richard Furlow Jill Markes and Brian Wingate; and Carlton Staggers of West Rock and West Hills.

“We Must Seize This Time”

Following are the written remarks Harp delivered at Friday’s inaugural:

Good afternoon, everybody. Happy New Year!

Senator Blumenthal and Senator Murphy, Lieutenant Governor Wyman, members of the New Haven legislative delegation, other members of the General Assembly, members of the New Haven Board of Alders, other distinguished city residents, honored guests, friends, and neighbors.

And to be sure, to those who are the wind under my wings: Djana, Jamil, and Matthew.

Thank you for joining me here today for a time-honored ceremony and a New Haven tradition. I would also express profound gratitude to voters for the opportunity they provided to have me continue as New Haven’s mayor. I accept your vote of confidence with gravity befitting the responsibility you’ve given me.

Today’s biennial swearing-in ceremony completes a months-long process. The scheduled, peaceful manner in which government reflects the will of voters and transfers authority — or grants continuing responsibility — is a big part of what we’re celebrating today.

With that in mind I want to acknowledge all members of the new Board of Alders, the City/Town clerk, and the two new members of the board of education. I congratulate each of you on your election and applaud your willingness to serve New Haven in your respective roles.

A few weeks ago, my first thought about a second inaugural address was about what is likely the most famous one of all, delivered by President Lincoln in 1865. I took time to refresh my memory of it: Lincoln’s words once again struck me, and I began connecting a few dots linking that day — nearly 151 years ago — to this one.

President Lincoln famously implored of his countrymen: ​“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right — as God gives us to see the right — let us strive on to finish the work we are in, (and)… bind up the nation’s wounds.”

President Lincoln was of course referring to the imminent end of the Civil War, and how the United States faced colossal challenges in his second term. He was referring to assimilation of confederate states, integration of recently freed African-Americans, building entirely new standards for race relations, and restoring war-torn cities, infrastructure, and spirits.

In just a few words, President Lincoln had an extraordinary ability to capture the moment, describe its exact time and place in history, and put it into context for others. He had a gift for that.

In this instance he knew the nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to equality, was uniquely positioned to pursue government of, by, and for the people, as he had recently described it in Gettysburg just 15 months earlier.

I think all of us here today can agree: the challenges we face in New Haven in 2016 don’t seem quite so dire. And yet, for the many people who struggle in our city, the challenges they face require from the rest of us every single ounce of what President Lincoln called for 150 years ago.

We must seize this time and place in New Haven history, and do so ​‘with malice toward none, and with charity for all,’ striving to create a safe, encouraging, and vibrant New Haven for all who live, study, work, and visit here.

For example, in 2016 it falls to us to assimilate new residents from foreign countries. I’ll bet everyone in this room has relatives who were immigrants to this country – willing or otherwise. Who among us can in good conscience close the door on new arrivals today?

In 2016 it falls to us — still and continuously — to build new standards for race relations in New Haven — and throughout the United States — that remain stubbornly askew 150 years after President Lincoln spoke.

Yes, legal segregation is gone; yes, sanctioned discrimination was ended, and yes, racial parity sometimes seems almost within reach.

Yet there can be no denying how race-based disparities persist in healthcare access and affordability, public education resources and results, employment opportunities, and throughout the criminal justice system.

There remains a great deal of work for us to do.

And please — these across-the-board disparities aren’t only based upon differences in race and cultural heritage. There’s work ahead to achieve parity for those with compromised economic standing, those with physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities, and those who face bias and prejudice based solely on sexual orientation or any other arbitrary standard.

We are so fortunate to be working to address these challenges here in New Haven. We are, by and large, an accepting place and a progressive group, with a collective sense of history, responsibility, and perspective.

We are making broad, positive strides in the critical areas of public safety, public education, and economic opportunity. We have earned steady and positive national attention for progress in these areas and deservedly so. In many areas, New Haven already has policies and programs in place other cities could use to their benefit.

In New Haven we have every reason to be proud of reduced crime rates, improved high school graduation rates, and a robust local economy with a building boom to boot. Today, at the end of this first term there are signs everywhere of a Brand New Haven emerging, and it’s very exciting.

At the same time, today, we find ourselves at another starting line, with all the challenges and opportunities, and all the potential successes of a second term stretched out ahead of us.

With a second term in mind, and after having served more than 25 years in elected office, it is more clear to me than ever that the common denominator in a successful strategy to combat all the challenges we face is providing young people with a best-possible public education.

Young people who are encouraged to be curious and develop interests in school, attain some measure of proficiency as their path unfolds, and then learn to apply what they’ve learned — these are the ones more likely to get jobs, keep jobs, and in many cases, even generate jobs for others.

This would speak to continuing development and a vibrant local economy going forward.

It follows that those who are engaged and productive at work are less likely to be drawn into violent, criminal behavior, which would speak to continuing improvement with regard to public safety in New Haven.

And just as public education is the key to an improved economy and safer streets, reading is the key to a robust, effective public education system. As we move New Haven forward, I am determined that we become ​‘the city that reads.’

The formula is really quite simple: reading residents are thoughtful residents, and thoughtful residents become creative, contributing members of this knowledge-based economy. But even a simple formula is not necessarily easy to fulfill. This formula will need a catalyst of time, effort, and human energy if it is to yield the desired results.

Going forward there can be no weak link in the chain of responsibility extending to each and every city resident. If we are to become ​‘the city that reads’ each of us will be called upon to promote reading.

And again it follows: if we are to continue our trend and become a safer city, each of us must promote public safety. If we are to continue our trend and become a more stunning place to do business, each of us must promote job readiness among workers, and job creation among employers.

Standing with you today, at this time and place in New Haven history, I am eager to work with each of you to the benefit of our city to maximize all it has going for it, and to the benefit of its residents, current and future.

I’ll repeat to you exactly what I said from this stage two years ago today. ​“With all due respect for New Haven’s extraordinary history… I am (even) more excited about New Haven and its prospects for the next two years. This term ahead represents New Haven’s unwritten history — none of us has ever been here before and our collective potential is positively inspiring.”

We’ve made terrific progress over these past two years, and yet I cannot understate the importance of public education going forward. We must shape and inspire students today who will inherit New Haven tomorrow. Our city’s continuing ability to attract investment, innovation, and employers literally depends upon it.

With all this said, I accept responsibility for New Haven as its mayor for a second term, and even as I acknowledge the many challenges we face, I embrace the task ahead. The results of our first term buoy my spirit and boost my courage about our collective potential to address these challenges.

And I cherish the opportunity we have — at this time and place in history — to continue building a Brand New Haven with its best and brightest days ahead.

Won’t you please join me, ​‘with malice toward none and with charity for all,’ as we seize this moment and build a New Haven responsible to all those who are here, and accountable to all those yet to come?

Thank you very much.